On September 30, 2008, a milestone in musical performance was reached. The Schiller Institute Bel Canto concert held at Boston’s Dante Society auditorium, was performed at the Verdi scientific tuning of C=256 Hz, by students who spent the previous ten days working intensively with Italian opera singer Maestra Antonella Banaudi, and choral director John Sigerson.

These master classes and rehearsals enabled each singer to discover and begin to develop one’s own sovereign voice. This transformation was evident in both the solo pieces presented, but also in the chorus, where the five separate choral voices can be heard distinctly, using the full palate of vocal colors. A full report is forthcoming. Check back soon.

Solo Arias (Performed at A=432Hz):

MyHoa Steger Soprano

Aaron Halevy Tenor

Matthew Ogden Baritone

Ema Reuter Mezzo-Soprano

John Sigerson Tenor

Anna Shavin Soprano & Matthew Ogden

Aaron Halevy

Jenny Getachew Soprano

Jessica Trembley Mezzo-Soprano

—Ach ich fühl’s (Die Zauberflote —W.A.Mozart)

—Una Furtiva Lagrima (L’elisir d'amore —G.Donizetti)

—The Catalogue Aria (Don Giovanni —W.A.Mozart)

—Stride La Vampa (Il Travatore —G.Verdi)

—Quando le sere (Luisa Miller —G.Verdi/F.Schiller)

—La ci darem la mano (Don Giovanni —W.A.Mozart)

—La Donna e Mobile (Rigoletto —G.Verdi)

—So anch'io la virtù magica (Don Pasquale —G.Donizetti)

—Nei giardin del bello (Don Carlos—G.Verdi/F.Schiller)

Schiller Institute Chorus (Conducted by John Sigerson):

Jesu Meine Freude (J.S.Bach)
Va Pensiero (Nabucco —G.Verdi)

A demonstration of the difference between the natural Verdi pitch of A=432 Hz, and the higher and unnatural modern tuning of A=440 Hz and higher, will be performed using the great anthem of freedom, Va Pensiero, from Verdi’s opera, Nabucco.

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